Coal mining machine



Dec. 25, 1934. V

J A. CRUMLEY El AL COAL MINING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l v v A. I I" v v gl Patented Dec. 25, 1934' UNITED STATES- COAL MINING MACHINE James A. Crumley and George Charleston, W. Va.

"1. Wall,

Application August 16, 1933, Serial No. 685,448

p 1 Claim. (01. 252-33) This invention relates to improvements in coal mining machines and has more specific reference to the so-called endless cutting chain type utilized to cut into the veins of coal in a manner.

' to facilitate the cutting of the coalinto blocks such as are calculated to expedite operations, to promote economy, and to otherwise better fulfill the requirements of a structure of this classification. I I

In perfecting-the principles of the present inventive .conception, we have evolved and produced a practical and simplified organizationof partswhich when properly assembled provide an arrangement which is mechanically correct,sys tematically and effectively balanced, sensitive and smooth in operation and characterized by the incorporation therein of ingenious features designed to acquire strength and durability and to equally distribute strain andstress in a manner heretofore unknown in this particular line of endeavor.

Being aptly fitted for the purposes intended, we have perfected an arrangement whose parts are readily machinable and susceptible of expeditious assembly, and whose features of accommodation and adaptation transcend those of the cutter bar and bit chain arrangement now used to good advantage-in coal mining :operations.

An object of the invention is to provide a cutting apparatus for mining machines which shall be of improved construction and capable of successful practical operation and make a cut of'the minimum width, so as to obviate the necessity of cutting and removing a cumbersome amount'of cuttings or'coal dust, our aim being to provide cutting, apparatus that shall be adapted to be operated with the minimum expenditure of power.

Another object is to provide improved cutting apparatus for mining machines that shall be so constructed as to reduce friction to aminimum and to provide a smooth running apparatus that will not be liable to become choked with cuttings in operation.

, A further object isto provide a cutting chain that can be run safely at high speedand which shall be so constructed as to provide firm support to guide the cutting bits of the chain-along true paths, and prevent the bits from gouging into the material being cut.

Analyzed more specifically, it will be observed as the description proceeds that further structural novelty is predicated upon a cutter bar embodying superposed plates whose marginal portions are constructed to provide a guideway including a track to accommodate special guide and retention lugs with which the bit holders are equipped, whereby to stabilize said holders andcto insure more dependable and satisfactory results.

' Although it 'is of minor importance, we also wish to mention here the utilization of a double plate structure which constitutes the cutter bar, wherein the plates are separably fastened together in order to accommodate shims between the plates and to compensate for wear and tear and to insure the accomplishment of more satisfactory and reliable results.

.Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

structed in accordance with the principles of the present inventive conception.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view of the cutter bar with the chain and its. par ts removed for clearness of illustration.

Figure 3 is an end View of Figure 1, observing the same in a direction from left to right. 7

Figure 4 is an end view looking at the opposite end thereof, that is, in a direction from right to left. I r

Figure 5 is an enlarged'fragmentary plan view with the cover plate removed.

Figure 6 a transverse section on the plane of the line 66 of Figure 2 V v H Figure 7 is an enlarge dfr agmentary detail section illustrating the principal novelty and taken on the plane of the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an edge elevational view of a portion of the chain illustrating a group of five coordinated' bit carriers arranged in a somewhat staggered line to regulate the width of. the cut as is customary in machines of this type.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 8.

- Figure 10 is a detail view of one of the bit carriers.

Figure 11 is an end view thereof observing the samein a direction from left to right.

Figure 12 is a detail view of one of the chain links, and,

Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

The cutter bar, as a unit, is distinguished by the numeral 14. As before indicated, it comprises a pair of companion or complemental plates and 16, bolted or otherwise secured together as indicated at 17. The plates are substantially duplicate in shape and may be of any desired material and proportion.

If desired, the top plate 15 may, as shown in Figure 5, be provided with a sight opening or notch 18 to accommodate a removable cover plate 18a for repair and inspection purposes.

The particular thing to be observed about this double plate cutter bar is that the marginal or edge portions thereof are spaced apart as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 6 to define a runway for the double link chain 19. The runway may be said to comprise an outer chain receiving and guide channel 20 and a communicating T-shaped guide groove embodying the features 21 and 22.

The chain 19 comprises a plurality of opposed pairs of links 23 and intervening co-o-rdinated cutting devices or units 24. Incidentally, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the links are provided with bosses 25 which fit into apertures 26 inthe web portions 27 of the bit blocks or carrier units. The block portion of the unit. is denoted by the numeral 28 and provided with a socket to accommodate the bit 29, the bit being removably held in place by a set screw 30. The

important feature to observe. however, is that the web 2'7 is provided with an integral T-shaped lug Whose shank portion 31 rides in the passage 21 and whose head portion 32 rides in the portion 22 of the aforesaid T-shaped guide groove. This is shown particularly in Figure 7.

As before indicated, particular novelty and stress is placed on the specific construction of the unit or device 24 represented in Figure 10. This device forms one of the parts of the chain as well as the holder or carrier for the bit 29. Then too, it is self-stabilizing in that it includes the T-shaped guide lug whose features 31 and 32 co-operatewith the T-shaped guide track 21 and 22 formed between the marginal portion of the cutter bar plates 15 and '16.

As shown in Figure 7, the bosses 25 on the links -fit into the holes 26 and fasteners 33 are assembled therethrough in order to connect the links to the web portions 2'7.

In Figures 8 and 9, it will be observedthat we show a group of five distinguishable bit holders or carriers. The purpose of this is to merely bring out the manner in which these are assembled in groups of five so as to govern or regulate the width of the groove which is cut in the vein of coal. The block portions 28 are simply offset in a progressive manner to angle the complemental bits of this group of five into proper progressive order to obtain this desired cutting action. This feature is however not new.

As previously implied, the principal novelty of the invention is predicated upon the two plates 1.5 and 16 fastened together in a manner to accommodate wear shims and having their marginal portions constructed to provide a communicating guideway for the bit carriers and chain arrangement. Stated other-wise, novelty is thought to residein theprovision of therspaced apart marginal portions of the plates which define the main chain guide or accommodating channel 20 and the communicating T-shaped track (features 21 and 22) communicating therewith, this arrangement serving to accommodate the specially designed bit carrier units 24 shown in Figure 10. Novelty may be found in the particular construction of the units 24, each of which includes the block-like portion 28, the apertured web 27 forming an actual part of the chain, and the T-shaped lug carriedthereby and co-operating with the T-shaped guide track.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description conjunction with the illustrative drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the purpose, features, and advantages, the explicit construction, and the invention as hereinafter claimed. 7

It is to be understood that minor changes in shape, size, relative proportions and materials may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as now claimed.

We claim: 1

In a structure of the class described, a cutter bar comprising a pair of elongated plates bolted together, the marginal portions of said plates having their inner faces recessed to provide .a channel and a T-guide way which opens out through the central portion of the bottom of the channel, one plate having an opening therein to expose the channel and guideway, a removable plate covering said opening, a plurality of bit carriers, each including a'wideouter portion having a socket therein for receiving a bit, a narrow web portion having a hole in each end thereof and a T-shaped inner portion engaging the guideway, pairs of links connecting the carriers together, the links of each pair having bosses on their inner faces abutting each other and extending into the holes in the web portions of the carriers and rivets passing through the links and the bosses, said links traveling in the channel, the heads of the rivets being countersunk in the links.

JAMES A. CRUMLEY. GEO; T. WALL. 

